Thursday, March 31, 2016

In Chinese Medicine, the relationship between the Organs and the Sense Organs has always been a mystery to me, and an inspiration. I have learned that developmental disorders exhibited in kids, is a function of Kidney Energy. And have found that treating youngsters with autism, ADHD, and other developmental issues is best addressed from the external opening of the Kidney Meridian, the ear, and Auricular Therapy.

The same goes for the eyes, the external opening to the Liver Meridian. Years back I had a printer from Russia who was not able to pass his eye exam for his driver's license. It turns out he had been exposed to the nuclear fallout from the nearby Chernobyl reactor when it melted down. After his Liver Meridian was treated, through the controlling influence of the Lung Meridian, he easily passed the eye exam and got his driver's license.

Fast forward to this past week, and a Pain Clinic patient not responding to acupuncture for severe, deep pain at the base of her tongue. So bad that she could barely eat or talk. Yesterday she told me that her doctor had just found out she had "a hole in her heart". Hearing that, I remembered that the tongue is the opening to Heart Energy. And once more my therapeutic approach was tweaked in a way that could never be realized through the diagnostic filters of more conventional medicine. Now the challenge is to just find a way through, bringing together the many options opened up by that unique insight.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

It was at the 200,000 member-strong World Federation of Acupuncture Societies Meeting in Houston 2 years ago Halloween that I first got a glimpse of the stunning power of Sacred Turtle Abdominal Acupuncture. They were one of 60 different presentations by Doctors from all over the world (next blog I'll talk about the Brazilian Doctor's research presentation on ear bleeding to reduce rheumatoid pain, I promise!).

Italian men can be quite dashing. These Italian Docs, with their thick Tuscan accents, dapper haircuts and stylish couture we're no different. What was different was the stunning videos of their 2 patients, one with severe cervicalgia, the other sporting a nastty, angry incision from a recent knee replacement. In a matter of minutes these two Doctors tag teamed their way to an amazing demonstration of how one needle twirled in the turtle's neck area on the belly of the neck pattient, and the lower right flipper on the knee patient's belly, to the crowded rooms amazement and disbelief, got both patients mobilized in a matter of minutes.

Fast forward to Chicago, this past Tuesday. A 265 lb. white male in his 50's limps in to the acupuncture clinic with his mother. His speech is thick, his left hand knurled and twisted. The by-product of right-sided head trauma, and a brain bleed a few years back. Sprawled back on the recliner in my office, he could barely raise his left leg, dorso-flex his left foot, raise his left arm, or open his tightly clenched left hand. To the amazement of the for of us, mom, son, my intern and I, foot, leg, arm and hand were working, with varying degrees of ability, rapidly following the placement and twirling of 2 needles each, placed in the upper and lower flippers of the turtle envisioned on his belly.